ATAR Notes Topic Tests

[Phytoplankton]

Hey,

I'm just starting Grade 12 (Units 3&4) this year in Queensland and I was thinking to buy the topic tests for physics. Because ATAR Notes doesn't yet have physics topic tests for QCE, I was thinking to get the VCE physics topic tests. I checked the VCE syllabus and the content looked similar but I wanted a second opinion if it would be worth getting the VCE physics topic tests for QCE physics. Would there be things in the topic tests I haven't covered or too hard - or maybe easy? Would you recommend the VCE physics topic tests for QCE? Your reply will be much appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks,
Isuka

[Joseph41]

Hey,

I'm just starting Grade 12 (Units 3&4) this year in Queensland and I was thinking to buy the topic tests for physics. Because ATAR Notes doesn't yet have physics topic tests for QCE, I was thinking to get the VCE physics topic tests. I checked the VCE syllabus and the content looked similar but I wanted a second opinion if it would be worth getting the VCE physics topic tests for QCE physics. Would there be things in the topic tests I haven't covered or too hard - or maybe easy? Would you recommend the VCE physics topic tests for QCE? Your reply will be much appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks,
Isuka

Hey Isuka!

Great question. I'm not a Physics expert (didn't study it after Year 10, in fact!), but will respond with what I know.

The QCE and VCE courses have some overlap, but they're not the same - and even if the topics are very similar, expectations might be different (in terms of what's required in a response etc). So I'd say that the VCE Topic Tests might be useful, but only with understanding of the above points and that topics/expectations might be different.

Digital versions of all ATAR Notes titles are also available on EdUnlimited (including VCE, QCE, HSC, WACE, Text Guides etc.), so you can see what the VCE Topic Tests are like for yourself if you want a preview of sorts before making a final decision. New users can get the first seven days free.

Otherwise, ATAR Notes is always looking to expand the range of available Study Guides, including for more QCE subjects and more types of titles (for example, QCE Topic Tests). If you want to request a specific QCE subject or title, you can do so via the request form below (this will give a better indication of what to work on next):

https://atarnotes.com/request-qce-subject-study-guide/

[Bri MT]

Hey

QCE does have a lot of overlap with VCE but it certainly isn't a 100% match. In particular, topics like motion would match very very well. You could get lulled into a false sense of security by things like VCE using flux = AB (they only consider perpendicular and parallel scenarios whereas QCE is broader) rather than ABcos(theta) (which you need to use) etc. so you'd need to make sure you stay on top of knowing what is in the QCE syllabus and your equations.

As a quick summary:

Unit 3
Topic 1: QCE and VCE strongly align
Topic 2: Lots of overlap but also some points of difference - some subtle.

Unit 4
Topic 1: Most of this is the same as in VCE and covered there but there are some things QCE has that VCE doesn't (e.g. the paradoxes)
Topic 2: Very similar to VCE but, for example, black body radiation is in HSC but not VCE
Topic 3: Don't bother looking to VCE - you won't find anything useful in VCE units 3&4 for this

Note that there are also some things VCE has that QCE does not, e.g. light ray diagram stuff. In the above summary I have only focused on how well VCE does include what QCE has - you'd have to learn what topics to complete & which ones to stay away from. It's not so much that there are different difficulty levels but more that some dot points in the syllabus are different.

As suggested above I think it's a good idea to look at EdUnlimited so you can see for yourself